Liverpool – Everton: EIGHT THINGS YOU MISSED

Wayne Rooney’s late penalty cancelled out Mohamed Salah’s first-half beauty as the points were shared in a 1-1 draw in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.

Salah put the hosts in front just before half-time as he cut in from the right to bend the ball into the far corner for his 13th Premier League goal of the season.

Everton were handed a lifeline when Dejan Lovren clumsily pushed Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with referee Craig Pawson having no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Rooney stepped up and confidently slammed the spot kick home to register his first-ever Merseyside derby goal and snatch a point at Anfield. 

Here, Sportsmail brings you a round-up of all the things you may have missed from Anfield.

A Merseyside England XI

With the bottomless pit of money and number of overseas players in the Premier League, derbys can sometimes miss out on the passion brought by locals.

This one was very different though as Liverpool and Everton could have combined to field a full starting 11 of English players.

Liverpool and Everton could have combined to field a team of all-English players on Sunday

Liverpool boasted Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Dominic Solanke while Everton fielded Wayne Rooney, Jordan Pickford, Jonjoe Kenny, Mason Holgate, Tom Davies and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. 

‘There’s a lot of different views on it. There’s a lot of English players on the pitch today so they know this, about the importance of a derby for sure,’ said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp before kick-off.

Big Sam doesn’t wait to go long

Sam Allardyce’s recipe for success has been a topic of debate for many years now. Keep it tight, don’t play the ball near your box and get it up to your strikers as quickly as possible.

It appears Everton’s players are adapting quickly to the former England boss’ methods as they hoofed a long pass immediately from kick-off at Anfield.

Everton set their stall out straight from kick-off as they hoofed a long ball down field

Everton set their stall out straight from kick-off as they hoofed a long ball down field

The ball was immediately played back towards an Everton defender who launched it downfield

The ball was immediately played back towards an Everton defender who launched it downfield

The speculative pass ended up causing Liverpool no problems as it went out for a goal kick

The speculative pass ended up causing Liverpool no problems as it went out for a goal kick

Everton’s Anfield woes continue 

Anfield is a difficult place to come and win for the best of teams but Everton are enduring a particularly barren run just across Stanley Park.

The Toffees have not won at their neighbours in the 21st century and are without a win in 18 Premier League matches at Anfield.

Their last success came in a 1-0 victory in September 1999 and they have since drawn nine and lost nine.

Wayne Rooney's penalty won Everton a point but they remain winless at Anfield since 1999

Wayne Rooney’s penalty won Everton a point but they remain winless at Anfield since 1999

Festive cheer aplenty in the stands

With just over two weeks to go until Christmas Day arrives, some fans made a serious effort to spread some festive joy during the match.

The festive season brings an enormous amount of football and it seems one fan couldn’t resist sticking on the Santa outfit.

Another fan opted for a turkey hat, which in fairness looked surprisingly warm in the snowy conditions on Merseyside.

Father Christmas could be seen in the stands watching Liverpool take on Everton at Anfield

Father Christmas could be seen in the stands watching Liverpool take on Everton at Anfield

Another spectator took the fancy dress up a notch as donned a hilarious Turkey hat

Another spectator took the fancy dress up a notch as donned a hilarious Turkey hat

Salah knocks Kane back to second place

Salah returned to the top of the Premier League scoring charts just under 24 hours after Harry Kane had closed the gap to the Egyptian.

Kane scored twice in Tottenham’s 5-1 thrashing of Stoke at Wembley on Saturday to join Salah on 12 goals for the season.

But the Egyptian, who is in sublime form, quickly reinstated himself as number one when he scored his 13th of the Premier League campaign to put the Reds in front.

It was also another for Salah on home soil and he has now fired home five goals in his side’s last five games at Anfield. 

Mohamed Salah returned to the top of the Premier League scoring charts with his 13th goal

Mohamed Salah returned to the top of the Premier League scoring charts with his 13th goal

Everton’s woeful use of the ball

Whoever has the job of relaying statistics to Everton boss Sam Allardyce at half-time must have had second thoughts on whether to inform him of their woeful use of the ball in the opening period.

First-half statistics showed Everton had very little of the ball in the opening exchanges

First-half statistics showed Everton had very little of the ball in the opening exchanges

The visitors amassed just 20 per cent of possession in the first 45 minutes, completing 54 passes.

For context, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson managed 60 on his own. 

Return of Danny Ings

Danny Ings made his long-awaited return to Premier League action for Liverpool on Sunday, coming on for Solanke in the second-half.

The forward has been plagued with knee injuries in his time at Anfield and has been unable to secure first-team football, with just one appearance for Klopp‘s side in 2017/18.

That came in September, when he made a 17-minute cameo in the League Cup defeat at Leicester.

Danny Ings made his long-awaited return to Premier League action for Liverpool on Sunday

Danny Ings made his long-awaited return to Premier League action for Liverpool on Sunday

Get your ‘Fab Four’ merchandise

The sublime quartet of Salah, Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino have been dubbed the ‘Fab Four’ after the same name given to The Beatles.

All four have been devastating for Liverpool this season and give Klopp a plethora of attacking possibilities.

As fans entered the ground today, they had the chance to buy some ‘Fab Four’ merchandise as street vendors seek to capitalise on their red-hot form.

Fans had the chance to buy some 'Fab Four' merchandise around Anfield on Sunday

Fans had the chance to buy some ‘Fab Four’ merchandise around Anfield on Sunday



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